Central venous pressure monitor tube support arrangement

ABSTRACT

A support arrangement for a central venous pressure monitor tube to maintain the monitor tube in substantial vertical position and its lower end in a predetermined horizontal alignment with a predetermined portion of the torso of an animal. The support arrangement includes bracket means which enables the monitor tube to be adjusted vertically to align it with an animal torso and a level with a cord or chain attached thereto so that the lower end of the pressure tube can be horizontally aligned with a predetermined portion of the torso of an animal.

Patent [54] OENTIRAL VENOUS PRESSURE 3,368,564 2/1968 Selix ..1211/34sMQNHTQR TUBE SUPPORT 3,495,585 2/1970 Halligan et al. 128/205 D H1 1ARRANGEMENT Primary ExaminerWi]liam E. Kamm [72] Inventor: Alice WadeNye, 7534 Greendowns, Attorney-Jack W. Hayden Houston, Tex. 770l7 7 [22]Filed: Aug. 27, 1969 [5 1 ABSTRACT A support arrangement for a centralvenous pressure monitor [2]] App! 853'263 tube to maintain the monitortube in substantial vertical position and its lower end in apredetermined horizontal alignment [52] US. Cl. ..l28/2.05 D with aPledetermined Portion of the torso of an animal The 511 11111. (:1...A6lf5/02 pp arrangement includes bracket means which enables 1581Field olSearch 128/205 1), 2.05 B, 214, 34s; the monitor tube to beadjusted vertically to align it with 811 73/402 animal torso and a levelwith a cord or chain attached thereto so that the lower end of thepressure tube can be horizontally [56] References Cit d aligned with apredetermined portion of the torso of an animal. UNITED STATES PATENTS 4Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 2,866,453 12/1958 Jerett ..l28/2.05 D

lllllll|Illllllll\llltllllllllllllllfil'!lllllll BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to asupport arrangement for a central venous pressure monitor tube whereinthe tube is aligned vertically to enable the central venous pressure tobe visually determined at any time and also enables the central venouspressure tube to be adjusted vertically so as to align the lower endthereof with a predetennined part of the torso of the animal whosecentral venous pressure is being measured.

The invention includes a bracket means which has at one end anarrangement for engaging a central venous pressure monitor tube andwhich permits the tube to be adjusted vertically relative thereto, andwhich is provided at its other end with an arrangement for engaging asupport member such as the wall of a room or other surface in a room orfor engaging a vertical pole. An additional bracket means engages thecentral venous pressure monitor tube and a suitable level means ispivotally secured to the additional bracket means which is preferablyarranged adjacent the lower end of the pressure monitor tube and isprovided with a cord or chain attached thereto whereby the level may beraised so as to align the lower end of the pressure monitor tube withthe desired portion of the torso of the animal whose central venouspressure is being taken.

2. Description of the Prior Art Applicant is not specifically familiarwith any prior art relating to a support arrangement for a centralvenous pressure monitor tube; however, applicant is personally familiarwith some types of arrangements which have been employed heretofore.

One type of arrangement, for example, is to tape the central venouspressure monitor tube to a vertical support member in a hospital room orintensive care unit, or in other situations to the vertical supportmember upon which is hung the bottle from which glucose is injected intoa patients veins. This arrangement is extremely unsatisfactory in thatthe central venous pressure of the patient must be visually observed andpossibly even recorded at predetermined intervals. In addition to thisobservation, it is necessary for the nurse or other party in attendanceupon the patient to also collect samples of urine or possibly make othermeasurements or otherwise perform services for the patient.

In order to obtain an accurate central venous pressure read ing, thelower end of the monitor tube is preferably aligned and generally mustbe on the same general level with the right collecting well of the heartof the patient or animal. Normally, this is at approximately thejuncture of the second rib with the breastbone. Heretofore, it has beennecessary to endeavor to visually align the lower end of the monitortube with the right collecting well of the heart of the animal orpatient by endeavoring to visually align the second rib and itsintersection with the breastbone. It can be appreciated that thisarrangement is at best not conclusive nor is it conductive to movementof the tube when the patient or animal is either moved from theoperating room to the bed or from one room to another, or even when thepatient or animal assumes a different position in the same bed or tableupon which it is positioned.

It can be appreciated that when the patient changes position either inthe bed or table upon which he is positioned, or changes position fromroom to room, then the tube must be retaped and then must be visuallyrealigned with the torso as hereinabove mentioned to endeavor to alignthe lower end of the tube with the right collecting well of the heart.This procedure is time consuming, inaccurate, and requires the nurse orparty in attendance upon the animal or patient, if it is a human, tosometimes even get down on the knees and try to align the lower end ofthe monitor tube visually with the patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a centralvenous pressure monitor tube support arrangement wherein the monitortube may be vertically aligned so that central venous pressure readingsmay be taken of an animal when desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a central venouspressure monitor tube support arrangement wherein bracket means isprovided for engaging the monitor tube and supporting it on a wall orother support member, and additional bracket means for engaging themonitor tube as well as level means pivotally secured to the additionalbracket means whereby the lower end of the monitor tube may be manuallyaligned with the right collecting well of the heart by a cord or chainwhich is attached to the level and then stretched to the torso of thepatient at approximately the inter section of the second rib with thebreastbone.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a centralvenous pressure monitor tube support arrangement wherein the monitortube may be moved vertically when desired to accommodate the movement ofthe torso of the patient in the bed and including level means which maybe aligned with the lower end of the pressure monitor tube and apredetermined portion of the torso of an animal to more readily and moreaccurately obtain alignment therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1. is an elevation illustratingthe support arrangement of the present invention including the bracketmeans and the additional bracket means with the level gpivotally securedon the additional bracket means and a valve means connected in the lowerend of the monitor tube and also to a fluid conductor which in turn isinjected in the vein of the animal or patient;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred form of thebracket means of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the additionalbracket means of the support arrangement of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Attention is first directed toFIG. I of the drawings wherein the central venous pressure monitor tubesupport arrangement of the present invention is referred togenerally bythe numeral 10. The monitor tube lll is formed of hollow tubularmaterial and is provided with suitable markings IS on the exteriorsurface to indicate the displacement of water in the tube in centimetersor millimeters due to the pressure in the right collecting well of theheart when the central venous pressure is taken.

The support arrangement shown in FIG. ll includes a bracket meansreferred to generally by the numeral M and an additional bracket meansreferred to by the numeral 15, it being noted that two bracket means Mare shown and one additional bracket means 15 is shown in the drawings.

The bracket means 14 is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 2 of thedrawings as including a central web to which is provided at one end withsuitable means 17 for engaging and supporting the monitor tube lllltherein. As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the means 17 at the end Maof the central web 16 includes a longitudinally extending partiallycircular portion which is provided with the longitudinally extendingslot 18 whereby the circular portion may be expanded radially if desiredand then placed around the monitor tube 1111 or the monitor tube 1111may be inserted through the opening B9 in the means 117.

The diameter of the opening 19 is smaller than the diameter of themonitor tube Ill so that the means 17 which extends at least partiallycircumferentially of the monitor tube 11 will tend to grip the tube 111and retain it in position in the bracket means 14. The other end of thebracket means 14 which is connected to the end 161) of the central web16 is provided with a circular extending portion 21 similar to thecircular, longitudinally extending portion of the means 17 and isprovided with a longitudinally extending slot 22 whereby the circularextending portion 21 may be expanded and positioned around a verticalsupport member which extends from the wall or from the floor of the roomin which the present invention is used. Additionally, it will be notedthat portions 23 extend laterally of the circular portion 21 to presentflat surfaces 26 and 27 upon which a suitable adhesive coating may beapplied and protected by means of the tape or other removable coating28.

Thus, the bracket means 14 may be applied to the wall of a room or toany other vertical surface by engaging the surfaces 26 and 27thereagainst or the bracket 14 may be carried on a vertical supportmember by engaging it within the portion 21. As shown in FIG. 1 of thedrawings, two of the bracket means 14 are in spaced relation along thetube 11 to retain it in vertical alignment to obtain the desired centralvenous pressure reading.

In FIG. 3, the additional bracket means is illustrated in greater detailand is shown as including a circular portion 30 which is provided with aslot 31 and an opening 32 for receiving the monitor tube therein. Again,the opening 32 is preferably smaller than the diameter of the tubefitting therein so that the additional bracket means 15 will tend togrip the tube, but will not prevent longitudinal movement of the tubemanually relative thereto to position the central venous pressuremonitor tube at a predetermined vertical position therein.

The circular portion 30 if desired may be also provided with ears 33 and34 at its upper end so that if desired suitable means such as arubberband or the like may be positioned therearound to further aid inholding the additional bracket means 15 adjacent the lower end of themonitor tube 1 1.

The partially extending circular portion 30 is carried on the arm 36which in turn is secured to or integral with the vertically extendingmember 37 which is provided at its lower end with an additional arm 38which extends in generally the same plane and parallel to the arm 36 butspaced relative thereto.

As noted in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the additional bracket means 15 ispositioned adjacent the lower end of the pressure tube 11 and the arm 38may serve as a support for the valve means indicated generally by theletter V which fits on the lower end of the pressure tube 11 as shown inFIG. 1 of the drawings. The valve V is generally a three-way valve andis connected at one side to the conduit 40 which may be connected to asuitable saline or glucose solution for injection through the valve Vand the conduit 41 into the veins of a patient if the animal is a humanor into any other type of animal upon which the present invention isemployed.

The end of the conduit 41 (not shown) is inserted in a vein of thepatient, and the tube 11 may be provided with a suitable column ofliquid such as water therein.

It will be noted that the additional bracket means as shown in FIG. 3 isprovided with a pair of laterally extending, spaced members 50 toprovide a means of pivotally supporting the level L by means of the ear51 which fits between the supports 50 and is engaged therein by means ofthe pivot pin 52.

The level L is an ordinary type of level which includes the curvedclosed liquid filled portion 53 that is carried in a suitable container54. An air bubble is shown at 55 in the liquid filled portion 53 andattached to or adjacent the end 56 of the housing 54 is a cord or chain57.

Ordinarily, the animal such as a patient or other type animal will havepositioned on his body at the proper location a piece of colored tape orother material with which the lower end of the pressure tube 11 must bealigned in order to obtain a proper central venous pressure reading.Thus, when it is desired to align the tube 11 after it is supported inthe brackets 14 and 15, the end of the cord or chain 57 is grasped andis manually positioned against the tape on the animal and the tube 11then adjusted vertically until the bubble 55 is in the central portionof the container 53 indicating the level L and the portion on the animalare in horizontal alignment.

Generally, this horizontal position is the same level as the rightcollecting well of the heart of the animal and is approximately at thejuncture of the second rib with the breastbone. After the tube 11 hasbeen thus aligned, the level may be lowered to the dotted-line positionshown in FIG. 3 of the drawings and cord 57 wrapped around the bracket15 as shown in dotted line in FIG. 3.

From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that when the patient moves,the lower end of the tube 11 must again be adjusted relative to theright collecting well of the heart of the patient or animal, and thepresent invention permits this by again aligning the level relative tothe right collecting well of the heart by manually positioning the cordadjacent the second rib intersection with the breastbone.

When it is desired to take a central venous pressure reading,

the valve V is moved to a position so that the conduit 41 from the veinwith which it communicates is communicated through the valve V to thepressure tube 11 whereupon the pressure existing in the right collectingwell of the heart will be transmitted through the liquid in tube 41 andinto the partially liquid-filled tube 11. The height to which the liquidlevel rises in the hollow tube 11 determines the central venouspressure. Generally, this pressure tends to increase with a heartfailure and tends to go down when the patient or animal is in shock.

It is not uncommon for the central venous pressure of a patient oranimal to be checked as frequently as every 15 minutes or even moreoften than this. Should the patient or animal move, or should he bemoved or readjusted on a bed or on a table, it can be seen that thelower end of the tube 15 must again be adjusted to properly align itwith the right collecting well of the heart in order that the pressureexisting in the right collecting well of the heart will be transmittedthrough the view in which the tube 41 is injected and then to the columnof water existing in the hollow tube 11. Generally, a normal reading isapproximately 8 to l3 centimeters of water in the hollow tube 11. It canalso be appreciated that the construction and size of the tube 11 is ofa well-known and standard form and type.

Thus, the central venous pressure is taken to determine if it is toolow, too high, or normal. The present invention permits the adjustmentof the tube 11 readily and with a minimum of effort.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention areillustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size,shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A central venous pressure monitoring apparatus includmg:

a. an elongated venous pressure monitor tube with markings thereon andhaving valve means in the lower end thereof;

b. bracket means having at one end a means for engaging and supportingsaid venous pressure monitor tube and having at its other end a meansfor engaging with a support member whereby said central venous pressuremonitor tube is maintained in substantially vertical position, saidbracket means being constructed so that said means at one end thereofwhich engages the central venous pressure monitor tube extends partiallycircumferentially of the tube and is of a smaller diameter than the tubeand is provided with a slot whereby it grips the tube while permittingthe tube to be slidably adjusted to any desired vertical positionrelative to said bracket means;

c. additional bracket means engaging and supporting said central venouspressure monitor tube; and

d. level means pivotally secured to said additional bracket means toenable the lower end of the central venous pressure monitor tube to bealigned with a predetermined portion of the torso of an animal, saidlevel means includl. cord means for engaging with said level means andlifting it whereby said level and lower end of said central diameterthan the support member whereby the other end of said bracket meansgrips said support member which permits said bracket means to beadjusted vertically of said support member merely by sliding ittherealong.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said additional bracket meansincludes a support for a valve engaged in the lower end of the centralvenous pressure monitor tube.

1. A central venous pressure monitoring apparatus including: a. anelongated venous pressure monitor tube with markings thereon and havingvalve means in tHe lower end thereof; b. bracket means having at one enda means for engaging and supporting said venous pressure monitor tubeand having at its other end a means for engaging with a support memberwhereby said central venous pressure monitor tube is maintained insubstantially vertical position, said bracket means being constructed sothat said means at one end thereof which engages the central venouspressure monitor tube extends partially circumferentially of the tubeand is of a smaller diameter than the tube and is provided with a slotwhereby it grips the tube while permitting the tube to be slidablyadjusted to any desired vertical position relative to said bracketmeans; c. additional bracket means engaging and supporting said centralvenous pressure monitor tube; and d. level means pivotally secured tosaid additional bracket means to enable the lower end of the centralvenous pressure monitor tube to be aligned with a predetermined portionof the torso of an animal, said level means including:
 1. cord means forengaging with said level means and lifting it whereby said level andlower end of said central venous pressure monitor tube may be alignedwith a predetermined portion of the torso of an animal.
 2. The inventionof claim 1 wherein the other end of said bracket means which engages asupport member is provided with an adhesive coating for engaging a wallsurface.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the other end of saidbracket means which is adapted to engage a support member is constructedto extend partially circumferentially of the support member and isprovided with a slot and is of a smaller diameter than the supportmember whereby the other end of said bracket means grips said supportmember which permits said bracket means to be adjusted vertically ofsaid support member merely by sliding it therealong.
 4. The invention ofclaim 1 wherein said additional bracket means includes a support for avalve engaged in the lower end of the central venous pressure monitortube.